A new not-for-profit Community Interest Company, Place for the Arts in Chester, is collaborating with local landlords in the city to convert vacant shop units into gallery spaces for local artists. Managed through the Chester Art Centre but run by the artists themselves, the shops are opening with short-term, zero-rent leases in return for their premises being looked after and available for re-letting with the minimum of notice. The shops sell original art, jewellery, ceramics, photographs, sculptures and prints, and local businesses and organisations involved hope that the "huge collective effort going into this scheme with city-wide support" will boost the city centre economy and make Chester a more attractive and interesting place to work and visit.
